This summer there seems to be one issue that all Garden City residents can agree upon. It is not the fate of St. Paul's. It is not the best use for the land south of the courthouses. It is not who should be the next president. It is the exorbitant price of the Garden City pool.

Most families seem to fall into one of two groups. They do not join the pool due to its high cost or they join but don't get their money's worth because they can not get there as often as they wish. Those who do not consider the cost an issue likely have their own pool, are members of a country club with one or have a beach house.

The high cost of pool membership is exacerbated by the draconian rules of not allowing Garden City day passes. There are many families who are away for much of the summer but would love to spend a day or two at the pool when in town.

The Garden City pool is a treasure that should be available to as many families as possible. No resident should be priced out of joining.

I believe that lower membership fees will spur more families to join, and that making daily or multi-day passes will allow use for the occasional user. Anyone worried about overcrowding simply hasn't been to the pool this month. With children in camp or residents away on vacations or for other reasons, crowding is not an issue.

For those who are curious what other Nassau County residents pay, I supply these eye-opening numbers for comparison's sake. Residents of Syosset-Woodbury, Plainview and Bethpage pay the following for their pool memberships - family membership $140 (we pay $390, almost three times as much); individual membership $80 (we pay $210); senior couples $60 (we pay $245); senior singles $45 (we pay $180); nanny membership $95 (we pay $210).

Day passes for ages 3-15 and 60 and older $4 (for us it's not available); ages 16-59 $6 (for us it's not available); book of 10 admission passes $30 (for us, you got to be kidding). I can also assure you that as someone who grew up in Syosset, the pool and facilities there are at least as nice as the pool and facilities at the Garden City pool.

Hopefully, by bringing up this issue now, there will be plenty of time to consider and reduce next year's fees. I would urge anyone who agrees with the sentiments addressed here to also make their feelings known either through the paper and/or to the board of commissioners for cultural and recreational affairs, which oversees the pool.

Marc H. Miner